diff --git a/eeschema/lib_field.h b/eeschema/lib_field.h
index f918d5557e..4fd886ac20 100644
--- a/eeschema/lib_field.h
+++ b/eeschema/lib_field.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ public:
         return aItem && aItem->Type() == LIB_FIELD_T;
     }
 
-    wxString GetTypeName() const override
+    wxString GetFriendlyName() const override
     {
         return _( "Field" );
     }
diff --git a/eeschema/lib_item.cpp b/eeschema/lib_item.cpp
index 0b567d3a08..1f78ebb717 100644
--- a/eeschema/lib_item.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/lib_item.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void LIB_ITEM::GetMsgPanelInfo( EDA_DRAW_FRAME* aFrame, std::vector<MSG_PANEL_IT
 {
     wxString msg;
 
-    aList.emplace_back( _( "Type" ), GetTypeName() );
+    aList.emplace_back( _( "Type" ), GetFriendlyName() );
 
     if( const SYMBOL* parent = GetParentSymbol() )
     {
diff --git a/eeschema/lib_item.h b/eeschema/lib_item.h
index 300c0dd116..bd95ead8dc 100644
--- a/eeschema/lib_item.h
+++ b/eeschema/lib_item.h
@@ -98,12 +98,6 @@ public:
         ERC      = 0x04
     };
 
-    /**
-     * Provide a user-consumable name of the object type.  Perform localization when
-     * called so that run-time language selection works.
-     */
-    virtual wxString GetTypeName() const = 0;
-
     static inline bool ClassOf( const EDA_ITEM* aItem )
     {
         if( !aItem )
diff --git a/eeschema/lib_pin.h b/eeschema/lib_pin.h
index 720383ea3e..b30c0224b0 100644
--- a/eeschema/lib_pin.h
+++ b/eeschema/lib_pin.h
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public:
         return aItem && aItem->Type() == LIB_PIN_T;
     }
 
-    wxString GetTypeName() const override
+    wxString GetFriendlyName() const override
     {
         return _( "Pin" );
     }
diff --git a/eeschema/lib_shape.h b/eeschema/lib_shape.h
index 7318dafc1b..3eab67a135 100644
--- a/eeschema/lib_shape.h
+++ b/eeschema/lib_shape.h
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ public:
         return aItem && aItem->Type() == LIB_SHAPE_T;
     }
 
-    wxString GetTypeName() const override
+    wxString GetFriendlyName() const override
     {
         return ShowShape();
     }
diff --git a/eeschema/lib_text.h b/eeschema/lib_text.h
index 3fa18e8554..50d2a1d29a 100644
--- a/eeschema/lib_text.h
+++ b/eeschema/lib_text.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public:
         return aItem && aItem->Type() == LIB_TEXT_T;
     }
 
-    wxString GetTypeName() const override
+    wxString GetFriendlyName() const override
     {
         return _( "Text" );
     }
diff --git a/include/api/api_handler.h b/include/api/api_handler.h
index daf668f5a4..433db158e4 100644
--- a/include/api/api_handler.h
+++ b/include/api/api_handler.h
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ protected:
             HANDLER_RESULT<ResponseType>( HandlerType::* aHandler )( RequestType&,
                                                                      const HANDLER_CONTEXT& ) )
     {
-        std::string typeName = RequestType().GetTypeName();
+        std::string typeName = RequestType().GetFriendlyName();
 
         wxASSERT_MSG( !m_handlers.count( typeName ),
                       wxString::Format( "Duplicate API handler for type %s", typeName ) );
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ private:
         if( !aRequest.message().UnpackTo( &aDest ) )
         {
             std::string msg = fmt::format( "could not unpack message of type {} from request",
-                                           aDest.GetTypeName() );
+                                           aDest.GetFriendlyName() );
             aReply.mutable_status()->set_status( ApiStatusCode::AS_BAD_REQUEST );
             aReply.mutable_status()->set_error_message( msg );
             return false;